The 10 best metal albums for the first half of 2015

Noisefull's Editors select the albums that stick out of the crowd up till now

on Thu, 06/25/2015 - 12:30

Half of the year has already gone by, having given us a lot of great music throughout the whole spectrum we pride ourselves on covering here at out site. Roughly breaking things up in to three main categories -rock, metal and alternative- our writers voted in secret and decided which of this year's releases stood out of the crowd. So, without further adieu, here are our 10 favorite metal albums for this mid-year, number 1 obviously being the best.

10. Enslaved - In Times

"There sound has been firmly set in stone and its consistence continues to resonate with all of us. Every single one of their studio efforts are a landmark in black metal territory, "In Times" being no different"

Tolis Dosis

9. Minsk - The Crash And The Draw

"Did they really have to cram everything they didn't release over the years in to one album? Of course they did, just to show how amazing they are! It's not an easy record to get through, but its artistic values is off the chart, along with the musical vision it represents"

Theodosis Genitsaridis

8. Visigoth - The Revenant King

"Last year I said that Grand Magus can easily sit on the modern throne of epic metal, as there really isn't anyone to claim it. Well, seems like quite a formidable opponent appeared and it might get ugly..."

Kostas Polyzos

7. Sorcerer - In The Shadow Of The Inverted Cross

"Sorcerer's first official album is now out there, and anyone who relates to their previous work or has developed a taste in more vintage sounds -such as in Manowar, Candlemass, Solitude Aeturnus- or modern contemporaries -like DoomSword or Atlantean Kodex- has no choice but to add "In The Shadow Of The Inverted Cross" to his collection"

Vassilis Skiadas

6. Tremonti - Cauterize

"Musically, "Cauterize" matches up perfectly with his predecessor, what changes things up is Mark's evolution as a singer, where it seems that he has finally found some steady ground to stand on and rise to the occasion"

Chris Karadimitris

5. Dodheimsgard - A Umbra Omega

"The wait was long but it was worth it. After listening to another new, full-length album by Dodheimsgard, we have no choice but to conclude that -yet again- it is safe to assume that it was a product of locked-up deranged lunatics"

Antonis Kondilis

4. Enforcer - From Beyond

"Just like a perfect machine, two years after the amazing "Death By Fire", Εnforcer are back better than ever. Their fourth album is here to prove their worth to anyone that is yet to be convinced"

Kostas Polyzos

3. Arcturus - Arcturian

"This is a band-defying piece of work that takes us on a journey through time -through future, past and present- in a way that only Arcturus know how to portray"

Nicholas Rossis

2. Armored Saint - Win Hands Down

"When every new metal tries sound like their '80s predecessors, Armored Saint -who actually did amazing things in '80s- wonderfully avoid re-hashing their previous work. On the contrary, they've evolved and adapted perfectly to modern times"

Chris Karadimitris

1. Leprous - The Congregation

"They're not here to give you easy-listening music on a plate. What they do is through their music and lyrics, depict something so dark and true, as a representation of life. Is there anything more satisfying then art giving an actual image of life?"